Botany babe

After a week during which both E. and I worked like Trojans (including an epic 6 hour shopping trip to that abyss of doom, I*K*EA)- the house has finally started coming together.  Or at least so I am no longer going to feel the need to be unpacking boxes at 2am.  We have curtains. We have carpets. I have the all important muslin cloths and disposable underwear (mmm, lovely). I am feeling, if not exactly prepared, then at least as if it won't be complete chaos if I suddenly do go into labour. 

And this is all good, considering that the word from my GP during my last appointment was that from now on, the baby could come "anytime."  Eh?  Eh?  Excuse me, I have at least three more weeks. Right?  Right?  Erm, apparently possibly not. Huh. I guess it makes sense in some ways- if this baby is anything like me, she will be at the airport check-in with her bags neatly packed 4 hours early. 

Of course, if she is anything like her father, she will be 2 weeks late, turned around the wrong way and unable to find the exit.

Because we are expecting a girl, and have been sharing that information with anyone who happens to ask, the next question on people's lips is whether we have a name yet. The answer is, yes, and quite a definite decision on that. Someone the other day expressed considerable surprise that a name was so fixed- to which I say that given that I've had nearly four years to think about what we would call our offspring, it's fair to say it's not exactly a rushed choice.

For the purposes of bloggage, I suppose I won't really be able to continue calling the little stranger the Apocryphetus much longer, so it's time to saddle up an appropriately silly pseudonym-since much as I love you all, if E., and I ( not to mention the dog!) get to be anonymous, then I think the baby should be no different. But while I won't reveal the actual moniker, I will tell you that it is the name of a tree, flower, plant or fruit.  So dispensing with the horse metaphor for a change, let's just call her...Botany. 

Um, what else?  A couple of people have requested pictures of the bump-unfortunately, I feel inclined to decline on that one, for reasons which I hope you will understand. You see, in my experience, when I was still in the trenches, while I often quite enjoyed reading the pregnancy adventures of previously infertile fellow bloggers, seeing any pictures of the actual bumpage could often seem just a tad too much to witness.  So I always promised myself if I was ever in the fortunate position of having a bump of my own, I was going to keep it under wraps, and I've decided to adhere to that.

I will however tell you that you can see a pretty good example near to what I currently look like (minus the  blond hair) is here. I guess we're roughly the same build. Scary, no?  I wonder if her ankles are as swollen as mine.  Probably not- no swollen appendages in Hollywood.   

Comments

[Rachel Inbar]

No way! Has it been *that* long?

I'm sure Botany has a lovely name. 2 of mine are plants - Hadas (which means myrtle) and Lilach (which means lilac).

Glad your house is finally coming together :-)

BTW, I hated those disposable underwear and didn't get the point. I took cheapy underwear I could throw out & found it so much more comfortable.

[jen]

Wow, it just doesn't seem possible that you are nearly at the end! I'm glad the house is coming together and I hope that the ankles don't keep swelling!

[Lynnette]

I don't know, I loved the disposable underwear, and pilfered as many pairs as possible from the hospital, since it was stocked near the Jell-o and juice for new moms. So nice to be able to just throw those (literally) bloody things away at the end of the day. I didn't have 12 weeks worth, but could have used them. Its getting very exciting, now...keep Botany in there for a while longer and try to get some sleep. How I miss the sleep...Oh and keep your feet up! :o)

[Lut C.]

Incredible that you're still doing so much work !

I understand your need for privacy for little Botany and for yourself.

I hadn't thought as far as disposable underwear.

[Anne]

Yay, plant names! We had our first 7 months ago and named her Ivy.

I'm so excited for you!!!! I went into labor a week early, and was just glad that it was the day after I had finished teaching for the semester--would have been VERY awkward if it had been any earlier! My advice--don't excercise and DON'T have sex until you are ready to go into labor. ;-)

In my experience, the disposable underwear did not stay up well--very uncomfortable, had to hitch it up all the time. Anyway, only wore it the first three days, then switched to regular underwear and HUGE maxi pad.

[Lisa]

Just please tell us you didn't name her apple, banana or orange.

[pjg]

We also have a flower child-Camelia. Also, never had disposable underwear, have no idea what muslin would be used for regarding babies. We all just wear regular undies & a buy a jumbo box of pads. Actually wore the pregnancy undies because my belly was still sort of floppy. Love the squirty bottle for bidet sort of action. I kept using it for years.

[Anna H.]

Ok, you can be non-blonde-unchintzed Naomi Watts if I get to be her BFF, an unpregnant-non-redhead Isla Fisher so I can go home to not-actually-Borat Sacha Baron Cohen -- the Hottness!

Cannot believe she's almost here, she-who-shall be-named-Botany -- am thrilled for you!

xxoo

[Amyesq]

Which one are you? Posh Spice or Lindsay Lohan. Somehow I can't picture you as either...

Kidding! I can't believe you are almost ready to er, bloom. This is so exciting!

[OvaGirl]

Hey Mare, this is fantastic. So very happy for you both and can't wait for Botany to make her appearance.

Seems so long ago since infertility island (although sometimes I still hear the sound of waves lapping agains the shore)

all the best
xx

[julie B]

We have a flower child.
Regular knickers and a maxipad did the trick for me [although with a c section, it's hard to get the elastic under or over the incision line...unless you're in granny pants]. But oh, the bliss having your entire bladder back! You feel it is suddenly of camel-like proportions.

[alchemilla]

Oh Mare, please tell me you at least *considered* 'filly'?

Botany is a super pseudonym and I look forward to hearing lots about her in due course.

Take care, fatty.

xxx